Pain Free Birth

Can a traumatic birth experience be redeemed, even after years of fear, postpartum struggles, and disappointment?
In this powerful episode, Karen sits down with Anna Kroese, a homeschooling mom who shares her journey through three radically different birth experiences. After an induction for suspected IUGR, a difficult breastfeeding journey, and a fast but overwhelming home birth that left her feeling disconnected, Anna wondered if birth would ever feel empowering.
Seven years later, everything changed. Through intentional preparation, understanding birth physiology, renewing her mindset, and partnering with God throughout pregnancy and labor, Anna experienced a peaceful, redemptive home birth that transformed not only her labor, but her entire postpartum experience.
Tune in to hear:
 Anna's first hospital birth and unexpected IUGR induction 
 How breastfeeding struggles, tongue ties, and body tension impacted her family 
 Why bodywork, fascia release, and craniosacral therapies can be game changers 
 The red flags she missed during her first pregnancy 
 How she convinced her husband to support home birth 
 Why she switched midwives in her third trimester 
 The surprising lessons she learned from a fast, intense second birth 
 How fear changed her perception of pain during labor 
 The physiology behind pain-free birth 
 The role of Christian hypnobirthing and faith during pregnancy 
 How her husband became an incredible labor support person 
 The moment she realized birth didn't have to hurt 
 Delivering her baby before the midwife arrived 
 Why her postpartum experience was dramatically different after her third birth 
 How birth hormones can impact postpartum healing and mental health
Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/
Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731
Website - https://painfreebirth.com/
Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in

What if the birth you've been praying for feels impossible according to everyone around you?
After five cesarean births, Derika Brown was told over and over that a vaginal birth was out of the question. Doctors dismissed her questions, providers refused to support her, and fear surrounded every conversation about birth. But deep in her heart, she believed God was showing her a different path.
In this powerful episode, Derika shares the remarkable story of her journey from five cesareans to a pain-free home birth. From hospital coercion and birth trauma to finding a supportive midwife just four days before labor, this testimony is a powerful reminder that faith, preparation, advocacy, and trust in the body's design can transform the birth experience.
Tune in to hear:
 How Derika's first birth led to a cascade of repeat cesareans 
 The dream that first planted the possibility of a VBAC in her heart 
 What happened when she attempted a VBAC after four cesareans 
 The shocking hospital experience that ended in a fifth cesarean 
 Why informed consent matters in maternity care 
 How birth trauma impacted her emotionally and spiritually 
 The role faith played in rebuilding her confidence for another pregnancy 
 Finding a supportive midwife only four days before labor 
 How her 9-year-old daughter became her unexpected doula 
 The atmosphere of worship, prayer, and peace surrounding labor 
 What a pain-free birth actually felt like 
 Experiencing the fetal ejection reflex after five cesareans 
 The emotional moment of finally achieving her long-awaited VBAC 
 Encouragement for mothers believing for their own redemption birth
Derika's Birth Video on IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXkpAMrDY-e/ 
Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/
Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731
Website - https://painfreebirth.com/
Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in

Can you trust your body completely and still acknowledge that medical emergencies sometimes happen in birth?
In this episode, Karen shares a perspective she's never publicly discussed before and diving into the recent conversations surrounding free birth, birth emergencies, and the growing divide between the natural birth community and the medical model of care.
This conversation is not about fear. It's about wisdom. It's about holding confidence in the body's design while also recognizing that true emergencies can happen. 
Whether you're planning a home birth, hospital birth, birth center birth, or free birth, this episode will help you navigate conflicting messages and make informed decisions rooted in both faith and discernment.
Tune in to hear:
 Why I decided to speak publicly about free birth and birth emergencies 
 The growing divide within the birth community 
 What the natural birth movement gets right about physiology 
 What concerns me about some free birth teachings 
 How to distinguish between physiological birth and pathology 
 Why medical intervention is sometimes life-saving 
 The difference between overmedicalization and undermedicalization 
 Common red flags women should never ignore in labor 
 Why informed consent requires understanding both risks and benefits 
 The role intuition plays in preventing poor outcomes 
 How birth trauma can occur in any setting 
 Why needing help in labor is not a failure 
 What true radical responsibility looks like 
 Encouragement for mothers healing from birth disappointment and trauma 
 How to prepare for birth with both confidence and wisdom 
Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/
Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731
Website - https://painfreebirth.com/
Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in

What would you do if you were 29 days overdue… and everyone around you was afraid?
In this episode of the Pain-Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with Christine Janicke, a mom of five, who shares her incredible story of carrying her fifth baby to 44 weeks + 1 day before experiencing a beautiful, natural home birth.
Christine opens up about the intense mental, emotional, and spiritual journey of waiting far beyond what most providers (and most people) would consider “normal.” From navigating fear-filled comments and pressure from others to learning how to radically surrender and trust the Lord, this episode is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and perspective-shifting conversations around birth, intuition, and motherhood.
You’ll hear how Christine protected her peace during those final weeks, the profound spiritual lessons God taught her through the waiting, and the miraculous moment she specifically prayed for a 3-push delivery… and got exactly that.
Tune in to hear:
 What it was like being 29 days overdue 
 Navigating fear and outside pressure during pregnancy 
 Trusting God when everyone around you is afraid 
 The emotional and spiritual surrender of motherhood 
 Why Christine intentionally kept her circle small 
 The difference between intuition vs fear in birth 
 How mindset changes the experience of labor 
 The surprising reality of her healthy placenta and baby at 44 weeks 
 Her fast, joy-filled 3-push home birth 
 Why “surrendering to God will never disappoint”
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/
Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731
Website - https://painfreebirth.com/
Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in

Could you trust your body after a traumatic birth experience?
In today’s episode, Karen sits down with Connie Johnson, a mom of four from Phoenix, Arizona, who shares her incredible journey from a traumatic military hospital birth and C-section to experiencing three redemptive VBACs—including a completely peaceful, supernatural hospital birth that ended with her baby being born before the doctor even made it into the room.
This episode is a powerful reminder that hospital birth does not have to equal fear, trauma, or loss of control. Her story is deeply encouraging for moms preparing for VBACs, hospital births, or healing after previous traumatic birth experiences.
 
Tune in to hear:
 Connie’s traumatic first birth in a military hospital during COVID 
 The pressure and fear surrounding “geriatric pregnancy” 
 How induction led to a 36-hour labor and eventual C-section 
 The emotional impact of birth trauma and NICU separation 
 Why she chose to pursue a VBAC after her first experience 
 The importance of choosing the right birth team 
 How mindset shifts transformed her subsequent births 
 Navigating grief and pregnancy after losing her father 
 The connection between fear, tension, and pain during labor 
 How she prepared mentally and spiritually for birth 
 Creating a peaceful worship-filled hospital birth environment 
 What physiological pushing actually felt like 
 The incredible moment her body birthed her baby naturally 
 Why her doctor completely missed the birth 
 How she recovered immediately after birth without exhaustion 
 Encouragement for moms believing for a redemptive birth story
CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/
Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731
Website - https://painfreebirth.com/
Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in